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Your guide to creating a winning entry
10 SEPTEMBER 2018Harrogate Convention Centre, Harrogate
awards.bridalbuyer.com
Your essential guide
1. Read the criteria and answer the questions directly - it sounds obvious but many entries fail to do this and the judges constantly check and recheck the criteria in the process.
2. Submit any supporting materials that are relevant and asked for, so that the judges can have all the information presented to them.
3. Be concise as well as comprehensive. While it’s valuable to provide as much relevant information as possible your chances of success will be improved if you can make very clear, very quickly, how your entry meets the criteria and what makes it stand out.
4. Be as specific as possible. A statistic that illustrates success will be more powerful than a generic comment.
5. Choose your categories carefully. One or two powerful entries in categories in which you have excelled stand a better chance of success than across the board entries in every category.
6. Remember that the information you provide remains confidential to the judges. You can be confident that information which may be seen as sensitive will not be shared more widely – and such information often provides the best illustration of success.
7. Bridal Buyer Awards is an annual event. Therefore judges want to see what your company has done in the past year that sets you apart from the competition.
8. Answer every question on the entry form but do not exceed the word count.
Top tips for creating a winning entry
Over the past 16 years, The Bridal Buyer Awards have brought the companies and individuals who have excelled into the spotlight, applauding their success and rewarding the finest achievements in the industry.
Winning one of these coveted awards puts you among some of the most highly-regarded names in the sector and, as a reflection of that standing, winning one is not only a great accolade but a great challenge.
We’ve put this brochure together to guide you through the entries process, but if there’s anything else that you’d like to know, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with a member of our team.
The Awards evening will take place on 10 September 2018, during The Harrogate Bridal Show, at The Harrogate Convention Centre. The spectacular black-tie event attracts an audience of more than 600 guests for a glamorous evening of dinner, dancing and the all-important awards ceremony.
We wish you the best of luck, and look forward to seeing you in September.
The Bridal Buyer Awards Team
This is the recognition for our customers. This is the one that we wanted to win; we put our heart and soul into this. Sonsie by Veromia
Meet our judges
Katie RuoccoLuxe Bride
Laura DalyBellisima Weddings
Maria Musgrove-WetheyThe Pantiles Bride
Natasha Radmehr Scottish Wedding
Directory
Nicola GartonRetail Bridalwear
Association
Chris WilliamsPeter Posh
Helena CotterSales Training Expert
Neil FlatleyLinzi Jay
Richard LillLadybird
Stephanie LomasJLM
Amanda Bradwell BBSA
Wendy AdamsOcean Media
Wynn PentonIreland’s Wedding
Journal
Martine Harris Essense Designs
Bradley TaylorMulberry
Helen GoodwinMade You Look
Phil PondScarlet Opus
Rebecca BaddeleyThe Dressing Rooms
Jo KentSomething Blue PR
Caroline BradleySorella & Co
Julia BraimeBrides up North & Unveiled
Keren SmithIdoIdoIdo
Best British Bridalwear DesignerNominations come from over 20 industry experts, the majority of whom are designers themselves. Each gets to suggest their top three nominations and points are awarded accordingly.
Supplier Categories
Key
Website of the Year
Retailer Categories
In Store Deisgn
Student Designer
RETAILER CATEGORIES• Bridalwear Retailer of the Year, England• Bridalwear Retailer of the Year, Ireland• Bridalwear Retailer of the Year, Scotland• Bridalwear Retailer of the Year, Wales• New Bridalwear Retailer of the Year• NEW Best Mens’ Formalwear Retailer• Long Standing Retailer of the Year• Best Retailer Customer Service of the Year• Retailer Website of the Year• Best In-Store Design
SUPPLIER CATEGORIES• Best Bridalwear Manufacturer of the Year• Best Bridesmaid Collection of the Year• NEW Best Prom Collection of the Year• NEW Best MOB Collection of the Year• Best Plus-Size Collection of the Year• NEW Best Headdress Collection of the Year• Best Supplier Customer Service of the Year
SPECIAL CATEGORIESThe following categories cannot be entered:• Student Designer of the Year• Wedding Dress of the Year• Best British Bridalwear Designer of the Year
Categoriesand Criteria
It’s the industry for the industry, so actually I think it gives it real provenience when you win an award when it¹s from people who actually know what they are talking about. It really makes it very special.Sassi Holford
I think it’s good for the bridal industry. It heightens shops profiles and it’s a sociable networking event.Creatiques
STEP 1: Entries are submitted. In order to be in with a chance of being shortlisted, you must answer all of the questions on the entry form.
STEP 2: Entries are checked by an independent awards team to ensure they have met all the entry criteria, all questions have been answered and images submitted. After this, secret shopper checks may be used to ensure factual information given in the entry is correct.
STEP 3: All entries that pass stages 1 and 2 will be open for review by category judges. All judging
is carried out independently and confidentially via our online portal. Judges will review and select up to six finalist within each of their allocated categories, awarding entries one to six points and detailed reasoning for their top three choices.
STEP 4: Once all judges have completed reviewing entries, scores across all categories are collated to conclude a set of finalists per category.
STEP 5: Finalists will be notified by email, and the winners are announced at the Bridal Buyer Awards ceremony on the 10th September.
How do I enter? All entries must be submitted online by no later than 4 May 2018. Please note that these awards are FREE to enter.
Getting started The first stage on the entry process is to fill in a form with your contact information, so that we can create an account for you.
Your submission From there, you will be asked to select the category that you would like to enter from a list of drop down options. You will then be automatically taken through to the entry questions for that category. Please note: all entry questions must be answered in order for your entry to be considered.
You do not have to complete your entry in one session - once you have registered you can save your work as you go along. To return to a saved entry, click on ‘In Progress’ in the box on the left hand side of the page.
Multiple Entries There is no limit to the number of entries that you can submit. However, one or two powerful entries in categories in which you have excelled stand a better chance of success than across the board entries in every category.
To submit additional entries, click on ‘Make Another Application’ in the box on the left hand side of the page and repeat the submission process.
Finished entry When your entry has been successfully submitted you will receive an email confirmation; if you do not receive this email, please contact our events team. Please note: once you have pressed this button, your entry cannot be amended.
All entries are confidential; only judges will view your submission, and they cannot see your login details.
How do I enter?
What happens to your entry?
If you have any questions regarding the judging process, please contact: Georgia Pick at [email protected]
Last year’s winners
“I was sure that there was no way I was winning – I felt like I was playing with the
big boys! When we were announced I thought for a moment I’d imagined it and I
was a little confused, then shocked… totally shocked especially as I was rooting
for Laura from Belissima!”
Rebecca BaddeleyThe Dressing Room, winner of
Bridalwear Retailer of the Year, England, sponsored by Alexia Designs “Time froze. Really? Did they
just say Enzoani? Then a wave of emotion came over me and the
tears welled up. Mark and I were holding hands under the table, we looked at each other in shock. It
was totally unexpected."
Jeanette Stevens Enzoani, winner of Best Bridalwear
Manufacturer, sponsored by the RBA
“We were in complete shock! To be alongside these other retailers and to make
it to the finalist stage was a huge achievement, we were over the moon and truly delighted. I feel our application was honest and transparent of all the ups and downs over the last year since opening."
Harriet MooreHouse of Snow, winner of New Bridalwear
Retailer of the Year, sponsored by Hayley Paige Occasions by JLM Couture
“We have shouted it out all over our FB page, twitter and insta. Our customers
have done the rest - proving yet again to be the best brand ambassadors for
Bellissima Weddings! Thank you so much for these awards and the opportunity it gives us bridal retailers to showcase just
what we are capable of!”
Laura Daly Bellissimma Weddings, winner of
Long-Standing Retailer of the Year, sponsored by Millie May
“When there are five other amazing designers on the list there is no
expectation of success. We have posted the news on all our social platforms and
our website. I am proud and delighted for all my team and especially our loyal Alan
Hannah stockists of whom many are good friends.”
Marguerite Hannah for Alan Hannah, winner of British
Bridalwear Designer of the Year, sponsored by Textile Forum
“Since this category’s winner was selected by consumers, we were especially
proud and honoured to be named the recipient. The best reward is knowing that
this dress – Style D2174 – which was a labour of love for our design team – has
helped make dreams come true for brides all over the world!"
Martine Harris Essense of Australia, winner of
Wedding Dress of the Year, sponsored by Love Our Wedding Magazine
“I wasn't at the Bridal Buyer Awards and didn't learn the results until the next
morning. When I found out, I was just in awe as this is the biggest achievement of my career. I'm still in shock! Since high school my interest has always been in
bridal, and after I finish my degree my aim is to go into the bridal world."
Eilidh Morrison Robert Gordon University, winner of Student Designer of the Year, sponsored by the BBSA
“It’s really nice to win the this, especially because we work so hard. It is an award for the whole team as we
work hard together - sales, marketing, customer services. We always try to go above and beyond and build personal
relationships with our customers."
Gemma Ball Morilee, winner of Supplier Customer
Service of the Year, sponsored by Belle Bridal Magazine
"I was shocked… and giddy with delight. I think my face said it all. I took over as designer last October so on my entry I was able to speak with passion
about the brand, the latest collection and plans for the future."
Michele O’Neill Callista, winner of Best Plus Size
Collection, sponsored by Ireland's Wedding Journal
On the nightThe spectacular black-tie event attracts an audience of more than 600 guests from all sectors of the bridal industry, including retailers, suppliers, designers and the media. It not only offers the opportunity to celebrate the success of all the finalists and winners, but provides an unrivalled networking opportunity as well as being a fun-filled evening with dinner, dancing and the all-important awards ceremony.
You can watch the highlights from 2017 at awards.bridalbuyer.com/on-the-night
British Bridal Suppliers AssociationSponsors
Essential InformationThe Bridal Buyer Awards evening will take place on 10 September 2018, during The Harrogate Bridal Show, at the Harrogate Convention Centre.
VenueHarrogate Convention Centre(Entrance opposite the Holiday Inn Hotel)Kings RoadHarrogate, HG1 5LA01423 500500
Timings19:30 Champagne Reception20:00 Dinner22:00 Awards Ceremony23:30 Live Entertainment01:30 Carriages
Marketing & Press EnquiriesCassandra Roberts [email protected] 020 7772 8405
Entry EnquiriesGeorgia [email protected] 770 120
Contact Us
